Can shared device-free activities help reset both my and my child’s habits? 

Parenting Perspective 

Yes, absolutely. Shared device-free activities are one of the most positive and effective ways to reset a family’s technology habits. They work because they provide a real-time experience of connection and fun that naturally lessens the appeal of screens, without having to rely on rules and restrictions alone.

 

Choosing Activities That Feel Rewarding 

The key is to choose activities that are genuinely enjoyable for both of you. This could be anything from trying a new recipe, going for a walk, playing a board game, or starting a small garden project. When the shared activity is truly fun, it stops feeling like you are ‘giving up’ screen time and starts feeling like you are gaining connection time. 

Making It a Routine, Not a One-Off 

A one-off activity is good, but a routine is transformative. Establish predictable device-free moments in your week, such as a dedicated family game night or a Saturday morning walk. This regularity helps to build new, healthier habits for the whole family. 

Modelling Presence and Enjoyment 

During these activities, your own presence is the most important ingredient. Show genuine interest and give your full attention. When your child sees you truly enjoying a shared moment without a screen in sight, they internalise the powerful lesson that fun and connection are not dependent on technology. 

Over time, these consistent, shared experiences will create a new normal in your home, where quality time together feels more satisfying and desirable than a digital distraction. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, time spent nurturing family bonds is considered an act of worship. Choosing shared activities that bring the family closer is a practical way of maintaining the ties of kinship and earning the pleasure of Allah. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Muhammad (47), Verse 19: 

‘ Then know this (clearly): that indeed, there is no one worthy of worship except Allah (Almighty); and seek forgiveness for your sins (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ only to exemplify the act of seeking forgiveness) and seek the (redemption) for the believing men and the believing women…’ 

This verse, in its call to seek forgiveness for the entire believing community, reminds us of the importance of collective well-being. Shared family activities are a beautiful way to support one another in goodness and strengthen the core of the community. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2446, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The believer to the believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other.’ 

This powerful metaphor teaches that believers are meant to strengthen one another. Shared experiences and activities are like the mortar that holds a family together, with each moment of connection making the entire structure stronger. 

By regularly engaging in device-free activities that you all enjoy, you are doing more than just resetting technology habits. You are investing in a stronger emotional and spiritual foundation for your family, one that will benefit your child’s well-being for years to come.